The winners of our Writers on Earth Competition wrote powerful letters to advocate for the...
Their creative minds burst boundaries and shattered expectations, raising their entries to the top. From over 1000 extraordinary entries, the winners of our Sci-Fi & Fantasy Competition were selected by Guest Judge Ryan La Sala for their imaginative world-building, charming characters, and rich language. Learn more about Arna, Myah, and Aaranya in the following Q&A.
Winner: Arna Sharma (Australia), age 15
Read the winning piece here!
“This story was mesmerizing, effective, and rich with meaning,” said Guest Judge Ryan La Sala about your winning piece. How does your piece touch on important themes about technology and our future?
Although my story was initially meant to be set in a nonexistent, dystopian future, it reflects many issues that affect us to this day. Social media, technology, and AI is shaping how we live today. People prefer to text rather than call or speak face to face. They prefer to vent to AI rather than face their problems. I think the root of this problem is the fact that people (including myself) choose efficiency and convenience over depth and understanding of one another. It's easier to talk to ChatGPT, who will always reply, always agree and always provide validation compared to a real person. I think that's when I decided to base my story off of a more extreme version of that. It's set in a near-distant future where technology tries to optimize us and remove what makes us so human, which would be connection, emotions, and imperfect experiences. The aim of my story was not to criticize or place blame on AI or humans, but to highlight our dependence on AI and the possible implications of what it could mean for all of us, now and in the future.
Your piece offers a rich plot in under 1000 words without losing the reader along the way. What advice do you have for other young writers who are trying to write a Sci-Fi story with such a tight word count?
The original cut of my story was well over 1500 words, so I needed a LOT of time to cut down on words. I think what worked for me was aiming for clarity and a singular focus on one theme and building on that. Originally, my story was a mix of body horror, a psychological thriller, sci-fi, and some sort of philosophical commentary on the erasure of humanity. In the end, I realised that I couldn't keep every single aspect and stay under the word count, so I aimed for picking one key theme and tried to explore it fully, instead of cramming multiple. Because the word limit is 1000 words, you don't have a lot of space to establish world-building or technological aspects for a sci-fi story. This means that every single line and detail must be used to advance the plot, the character's arc and reveal key details about the world. For me, this meant using a couple of key motifs (coffee, handwriting and scent) and using them consistently throughout the story, not just as a detail, but as a way to structure and progress the story.
Runner-Up: Myah Rathi Litteljohn (Canada), age 14
Read the runner-up piece here!
The vocabulary and descriptive detail in your piece are vivid and compelling, which is challenging when immersing readers in an unfamiliar sci-fi or fantasy world. How do you approach introducing and describing a world that exists entirely in your imagination, yet must feel tangible to your reader?
My approach to introducing and describing an imaginary world normally begins with concept maps scribbled in a notebook. These preliminary pages often include specific words, phrases, colours and even drawings that are associated - even if loosely - with my developing characters and plot. I try to include small and seemingly tangential details that have to do with things like culture, architecture, clothing etc., which give my setting a lived in feel - even if these details don’t end up making it into my written piece. Ultimately, these initial planning steps help make the world that I’m dreaming up feel real to me, which hopefully translates to my writing.
What kinds of books inspire your writing?
I draw inspiration for my writing from a variety of sources, including music, my own lived experiences and, of course, reading! I like to read all kinds of books, but I’m especially drawn to and inspired by genre-mashups - specifically ones that blend fantasy and themes of family and friendship. Some of my favorites are Elsewhere by Gabrielle Zevin, When The World Tips Over by Jandy Nelson and The Other Valley by Scott Alexander Howard. I enjoy using this particular combination in my own writing, and many of my stories centre on one or more key relationships that develop against the backdrop of a fantastical, imaginary world.
I’m also partial to books that speak to me on an emotional level, and these are normally the ones that stay with me the longest. A few titles that stand out for me are The Kite-Runner by Khaled Hosseini, The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas and The Lost Year by Katherine Marsh. Because I am so drawn to and inspired by emotionally-charged books, I almost always try to emphasize emotional arcs and other elements in my own writing.
But I’d also say that my inspirations are constantly changing, and I want to be mindful to stay open to new sources of inspiration - whatever they might be.
Best Peer Review: Aaranya Rakhunde (India), age 14
Read the winning peer review here!
Guest Judge Ryan La Sala said: “I cherish the tone you've achieved here, which is constructive but not patronizing, and positive without creating skepticism.” As a peer reviewer, how do you strike this important balance?
I just think about how I’d want someone to talk to me about my writing. No one likes to feel like they’re being marked on a test, so I keep it more like a conversation. I start with what I loved, and then suggest ideas the way you’d pitch them to a friend — excitedly, not like a list of faults. Especially in Sci-Fi and Fantasy, where the worlds feel so personal, I want the writer to leave feeling inspired to write more, not scared to touch their story again.
What do you enjoy about peer reviewing Sci-Fi & Fantasy?
It’s like being handed the keys to someone’s imagination for a little while. One day I’m exploring a galaxy with tea-drinking aliens, the next I’m in a castle where the ghosts probably dress better than me. I love finding the small details — a clever line, a quiet emotional beat — that make a story stick in your head. And honestly, seeing the author realize how much magic they’ve already written? That’s the best part.
